Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-08-23
TIE Ar oE MEMORY.
Some Sensible thoughts on the Interesting
Subject of Mncmotechnv.


Subject of Mncmoteohnv.
Tho quality of the mind which We
call memory has been we'll likened toa
store-house, into which have been
thrust, without any definite order OF ar
rangement. precious things and worth
less things priceless treasures and use
less rubbish. The mechanical task OF Sc
lecting from the confused heap a par
ticular thing which is needed is called
an effort of the memory, but should
rather be called an arousal 90 eXcita-
ton of the memoryi for 1t is all but
certain that from the vast store-house
nothing ever disappears nothing IS
ever lost, only when we can not ma
inst what we want at the time we want
It. we say we have forgotten.
Ii may be bold assertion to say
that we never forget; that is, that
nothing is ever absolutely lost beyond
the possibility of recollection, or re-
gathering, as the world means. but the
facts bear out the claim that in the
strict sense of the word we never for
get.
1t is common expression 20 say that
one person has much finer memory
than another, but it only means that
the one has the power of selecting ana
arranging which the other has never
cultivated or which has become weak
oned through disease. 1t is undoubt-
edly true that some have higher
natural power of this kind. just as
some mems muscles are naturally
stronger than others, but the faculty
exists in all who are of sound mind.
and can certainly be cultivated to a de-
gree which seems extraordinary to
those who have never looked into or
thought upon the subject
Cultivation uf the art Of memory
which, by the way, is a singularly ex-
act expression for the process-is o
matter upon which much thought and
attention have been bestowed, and rs
to which opinions have widely Differed
The literature of mnemotechny
has become very extensive and
many systems of artificial memory have
been devised to help those whose ideas
and associations lack sequence and who
do not know how to set about the task
of recollecting. But all these are out
side the real idea of cultivating the
memory. They are aids to an unused
or unframed faculty, nothing more.
They are simply the application OF
mechanical force to help out q weak oil
enfeebled muscle; they are the muscle
itself.
The memory can be cultivated
strengthened. made efficient and &C
curate in only one way-by systematic
and persistent exercise. 1t does no
differ in this respect from any othel
human faculty, whether of mind oil
body. Muscle and intellect are sub
iect to the same rules and tn
same conditionsi use strengthens
disuse weakens. An inefli
Gent feeble memory must b
put under right rigid discipline and ex
ercised Systematically, and especial
) used in those directions in which if
! most detective. Memories differ yer
. widely, as to the objects which the
grasp with ease or difficulty. One re
members dates with accuracy, anothe
! Is always uncertain about themi on
remembers faces perfectly, another a
! ways confuses themi one remember
: the sequence of events, another Is neve
= absolutely certain as to historic orde
or precedence; one recollects only til
gravest and most important affair:
another only froth and nonsense.
Each case Of uncertain or defectiv
memory calls for its own treatmen
and that is severe discipline. A poe
!, memory for dates can be made bette
!, by hard study of chronology; the u.s.
t less faculty of remembering trivii
things can be cured by an exclusiv
: study of matters of consequence. -Sa
a FrdnciScO Chronicle